Compare towns
Exeter vs Sheldon vs Arkwright vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Arkwright has the highest household income ($93k).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Exeter | Sheldon | Arkwright | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913 |
2,267Highest |
859Lowest |
1,016 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Arkwright and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30k 49% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$875±$689 38% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,760Highest 21% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arkwright and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.